How to make the most of a test drive

Does anyone have any advice of what to ask for/expect of a test drive of a new or a second hand car?

From chatting to a couple of franchised dealers, I think one dealership want one of their employees to sit in on the drive, whereas another will give the keys for an hour or so (I assume this means they won't have anyone in the car during the test drive).

I can see the sense of the former, but whenever I've been on test drives, the salesman has been in the car, and also dictated the (very short) test drive route. In these cases, the test drive wasn't really the determining factor in what car I bought.

I'd not even bother if they made me drive a short distance. I'd want to get any car I test drove on a fast road or a motorway at the very least.

One garage said I could only test drive a car if I was serious and gave them a deposit???! Walked out of that one. I could understand it if they been suspicious I was just trying to get a go in a fast car but it was an Astra!

On taking a friend to pick up his new Honda something-or-other some years ago the salesman spotted me taking an interest in an S2000 on the lot. He handed me the keys without my even asking and let me take the ex out, no papers, no nothing. Turns out it was the sales manager's car and the sales chap had an axe to grind and was on his way out the door. That car went like stink!

Went to test drive an Alfa once, the salesman came with us on the test drive. When he got in he asked if we would be mostly using it for motorway or normal roads. Told him it would be mainly motorway, so he directed me from the showroom to the motorway and off we went.

And I drove, up the motorway until after about an hour and the fuel light had came on I asked him when he wanted me to turn off. He then told me he thought I knew where I was going.

About three hours after setting off we got back to the showroom and they were ready to lock up so he didn't even get to do the salesman part.

Tool a punto for a test drive once with the salesman there. Got about a mile up the road and it ran out of petrol. Salesman didn't have a clue what to do so I abandoned him and walked back to the showroom and drove off. Lucky escape.

5yrs ago I test drove a new M3 (main dealer) and they said I would have to stick to the normal 3-4 mile route. As an existing customer of theirs I said there was no way I'd part with that kind of cash based on 10-15 minutes of driving. They said that was their policy and that was that. Needless to say I took the drive anyway.

Other dealers have simply thrown me the keys and said bring it back where you're done!

Drive it like you stole it, and insist on a mix of A road, urban and motorway / dual carriage way.

That way you'll get the chance to really see the car across all possible environments, and probably working it harder than you would if you owned it.

In my experience the salesmen don't mind you ragging it, in fact a few have encouraged it. I remember doing 60 round a roundabout in a Civic Type R in 3rd gear, the salesman telling me to redline it.......

When I lived in the highlands you'd just have to leave something of yours, like your license and just take the car for an hour or so.

I knew a guy there, who to be frank was a long way down a spiral into madness and eventually suicide. He was the last person I would have handed a set of car keys too and yet he was able to use frequent test drives of Audi A8's as free taxis around the whole of the north of scotland.

i booked a test drive of a caterham at a local dealer, was told to wait for their 'test drive guy' to get back before i could go out.

he couldnt fit in the car with the roof on (was raining, hard) so i was able to still have the drive on my own. and told since there was only a gallon or so in the tank if i refueled to put some in, and bring them the receipt.

but if its a second hand car - i would just be looking to see if the car stops straight, that on a straight road it drives straight without pulling to oneside (tho allowing for the camber of the road on that one)
that it turns on hard lock at low speed without any grinding noise (ie the CV joint is ok)
theres no wobbles either at 20/30mph or at higher speed (60+)
that the clutch bites ok - not too high or too much free play on the pedal.

Try to get a mix of different types of road and drive for at least 30 mins-any seat/back problems would start to show up by then & the different surfaces will give you an idea of road noise and how it handles rough surfaces. Also, very important, as well as thrashing it, do a low-speed test too-considering a lot of driving these days is done in traffic jams, transmission snatch when the throttle is lifted or when the drivetrain is lightly loaded can be a real problem.I have had both accompanied & solo test drives-it all depends on the garage but try not to feel inhibited or intimidated if they insist on riding with you.

I find it helps if you know quite a bit about the car and enthusiastically engage the salesman in that type of chatter. If he responds accordingly then there's a chance they'll take you more seriously and give you more flexibility on the type of test drive. I remember being encouraged to drive a VXT like a proper go-kart - that was certainly fun:)

Ford will lend you a car any car for 24 hours if you join there company car drivers club, and it sfree and the car gets delivered,and picked up, by two very informative chaps who do it for a living so soon find all the niggles, and weaknesses.

Drove a volkswagen once on a test drive,stopped on a bit of a hill and we rolled back as i told the sales chap the handbrake had failed, he nearly shit himself,before i sounded the horn and lifted the clutch,never did get a deal off him and he didnt see the funny side either.